Earth and her colonies are now smoldering ruins, and the few survivors have
fled to distant, Earth-like Safehold, to try to rebuild. But the Gbaba
can detect the emissions of an industrial civilization, so the human
rulers of Safehold have taken extraordinary measures: with mind control
and hidden high technology, they’ve built a religion in which every Safeholdian believes, a religion designed to keep Safehold society
medieval forever.
800 years pass. In a hidden chamber on
Safehold, an android from the far human past awakens. This “rebirth” was set in motion centuries before, by a faction that opposed shackling
humanity with a concocted religion. Via automated recordings, “Nimue” –
or, rather, the android with the memories of Lieutenant Commander Nimue
Alban – is told her fate: she will emerge into Safeholdian society,
suitably disguised, and begin the process of provoking the technological progress which the Church of God Awaiting has worked for centuries to
prevent.
Nothing about this will be easy. To better deal with a medieval society, “Nimue” takes a new gender and a new name, “Merlin.” His formidable powers and access to caches of hidden high technology
will need to be carefully concealed. And he’ll need to find a base of
operations, a Safeholdian country that’s just a little more
freewheeling, a little less orthodox, a little more open to the new.
And thus Merlin comes to Charis, a mid-sized kingdom with a talent for
naval warfare. He plans to make the acquaintance of King Haarahld and
Crown Prince Cayleb, and maybe, just maybe, kick off a new era of
invention. Which is bound to draw the attention of the Church… and,
inevitably, lead to war.
It’s going to be a long, long process. And it’s going to be the can’t-miss SF epic of the decade.
“Off Armageddon Reef shows David Weber at the top of his game.” – David Drake
“Vast, complex, intricate, subtle, and
unlaydownable. This looks like the start of the biggest thing in science fiction since Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.” – Dave Duncan
“David Weber is the master of scope, and Off Armageddon Reef is breathtaking in scope of characters, scope of its universe, and scope of time… Weber masterfully weaves a ferocious amount of vision into a story that is surprisingly easy to read and (not surprisingly) hard to put down.” – Elizabeth Haydon
The series
In the Safehold series, David Weber crafts a deeply immersive world where the stakes are high, and the weight of history is felt with every decision. Set on a distant planet that has been deliberately cut off from the rest of the universe, the series explores a world where technology has been frozen in time, and humanity is forced to rebuild from the ground up. This high-concept premise sets the stage for a gripping narrative about survival, faith, power, and the struggle to protect a fragile society from forces both internal and external.
Read full series description
At the heart of Safehold is the conflict between the ruling religious order, the Church of God Awaiting, and the rise of scientific and technological innovation. With society bound by an edict that prohibits any technological advancement beyond a certain point, the tension between progress and control drives the series forward. The story follows a variety of characters, from the military leaders and politicians who fight for control, to the religious figures who seek to maintain their hold on power, to the quiet rebels who see a world that must change to survive.
What sets Safehold apart from other science fiction series is its intricate world-building and the complex moral questions it raises. Weber doesn’t just create a backdrop for his characters; he builds a society where every law, tradition, and belief has been carefully designed to create a system of control. But as new technologies emerge and secrets from the past are uncovered, the world of Safehold becomes a battleground for those who want to change the course of history. The series is as much about the clash of ideas as it is about space battles and military strategy.
Weber’s meticulous attention to detail and his gift for developing multifaceted characters make Safehold a standout in the genre. His portrayal of a world on the brink of revolution is rich with political intrigue, philosophical debates, and high-stakes drama. Whether it's the military brilliance of its leaders or the quiet intelligence of those working behind the scenes, every character in Safehold is fighting for their vision of the future.
In a series that spans multiple books, Safehold invites readers to explore the complexities of a society caught between the past and the future, offering a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to break free from the constraints of tradition while questioning the cost of progress. It’s a compelling saga that mixes action, strategy, and philosophical depth in a way that will resonate long after the last page is turned.
#1 · 2007Off Armageddon Reef 
#2 · 2008By Schism Rent Asunder 
#3 · 2009By Heresies Distressed 
#4 · 2010A Mighty Fortress 
#5 · 2011How Firm a Foundation 
#6 · 2012Midst Toil and Tribulation 
#7 · 2014Like a Mighty Army 
#8 · 2015Hell's Foundations Quiver 
#9 · 2016At the Sign of Triumph 
#10 · 2019Through Fiery Trials 
#11 · TBASafehold Book 11 Be the first reviewer
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